EgYptianArabian
the
horse
TT
he sands of time hide the origins of the Arabian horse. Born somewhere in the
deserts of inner Arabia, Jordan may claim him. Iraqis insist the Bedouin tribal
families of the Mesopotamian valley and its surrounds gave him a home. Saudi
Arabia in its arid isolation, where only the hardiest and very best of horses remained to
pass on their inheritance, lays its claim, as well.
In ancient days, the horses of Egypt’s New Kingdom brought fame and honor to the
mighty pharaohs who bred them and used them to conquer vast empires. Equine reliefs
are engraved on the walls of palaces in Luxor, and historians speak of horses kept by the
thousands in the stables of the Queen of Sheba in Yemen. Historians even tell that the
first Arabian was ridden by Ismail, the son of Abraham.
The Prophet Mohammed honored the horse as a gift from the Creator and required
that his followers cherish and protect it as a member of the household. Their beauty,
courage, pride, and speed elevated these royally bred creatures to celebratory and
godlike status. So famous did they become that even wise King Solomon was said to
have “brought horses out of Egypt.”
Handed down in tales and poems recited around campfires in the desert night, the
romance and admiration for the ethereal but athletic horse of the windswept desert
reach far back into the dawn of history and carry their magic into our lives today…
Photo by Valerie Clinkenbeard
HISTORY & MYSTIQUE
“He is a perfect animal,”
noted Major R. D. Upton,
who traveled to the
Arabian desert in 1875.
“There is a balance and
NOBILITY & TYPE
harmony throughout
The legendary horses of the desert were well known in Egypt; extremely rare and
seldom for sale, only the noble classes of society could obtain them. They valued a horse
of fine type and ardently collected the most beautiful ones, establishing a legacy as a
“dry, desert-type horse.”
When in 1805 Mohammed Ali became the Pasha of Cairo, the stage was set to build
the finest Arabian horse breeding program Egypt had ever experienced. Eventually,
seen in any other horse
his frame that is not
… the quintessence of
all good qualities, in a
compact form.”
Photo by Suzanne
drawn from the heart of the desert, over
1,100 spectacular animals were stabled
at Shoubra, Mohammed Ali’s luxurious
country estate, the most ethereal, royal
equine collection in the world.
Abbas Pasha, grandson of Mohammed
Ali, also collected his own horses, and
through various connections with the
house of Al-Saud and other powerful
Bedouin tribes, he obtained more of the
finest horses Arabia and its environs had
to offer. Housed in palaces, his horses
became legendary worldwide, said to rival
those of King Solomon!
Driven to assure the purity of his
desertbred herd, all the horses that
Abbas Pasha, Mohammed Ali, and
Ibrahim Pasha had acquired were
fully authenticated from trustworthy
Bedouin sources. Later, when Abbas
became Viceroy, the collection of oral
Bedouin histories was compiled into a
book, which was eventually found and
translated by Gulsun Sherif and Judith
Forbis, and published in 1993 as “The
Abbas Pasha Manuscript.”
A purebred Arabian horse, the
Egyptian Arabian is literally a “breed
within a breed.” Certain bloodlines, as
authenticated by Abbas Pasha and further
defined by The Pyramid Society, form the
nucleus of this specific group — valued
through the ages as the “archetype” of
classic refinement — bred for centuries to
concentrate the distinguishing qualities
known throughout the Arabian horse
world as “Arabian type...”
VERSATILITY & REFINEMENT
The Bedouin knew the Arabian as the ideal instrument of war: swift, responsive, agile, and enduring, with courage, loyalty, and
the ability to withstand privation. Over time, horsemen around the world recognized the Arabian horses’ value and introduced the
blood of fiery desertbred Arabians for thriftiness, speed, endurance, responsiveness, and refined beauty to native stock.
Today the Arabian is known as the foundation of all light breeds of horses. Although the Egyptian Arabian represents only a small
percentage of the breed, the echo of its rich history of triumph over extreme conditions persists today, producing a range of attributes
not commonly found in one breed. These much-admired treasures from the desert are internationally sought after for their success
across a variety of disciplines in the showring, both in North America and worldwide…
Endurance
Their flared nostrils hint at the
incredible lung capacity and stamina that
account for top finishes at 25-, 50-, and
100-mile rides!
Performance
Their agility shines through in Hunter
and Western pleasure competitions; their
intelligence and skillful footwork in driving
and reining events!
Racing
They have right of claim as the
original racehorse, running head-to-head
today against thoroughbreds in shorter
distance races.
BEAUTY &
COMPANIONSHIP
The Egyptian Arabian, the most beautiful
of all breeds, is endowed with grace, agility,
stamina, and intelligence, making it a
perfect horse for competition and an ideal
companion for a caring owner.
Whether you are still entranced by Walter
Farley’s mythic Black Stallion, or find your
spirit soaring at the sight of a colt highstepping in a sunlit field …
Whether you count yourself among the
stewards of an historic tradition, or want to
introduce your children
to healthy discipline and
responsibility …
Whether you are a
sales professional or a
farmer, an accountant
or an artist, a young
mother or a retired
executive …
Whether you long
for your first gentle
mare, or yearn to
invest in a most noble
breeding stallion …
The Egyptian
Arabian horse will
fulfill every dream, and more!
Enter upon the enduring legacy and
present adventure of this magnificent steed.
Experience personal satisfaction, pride of
ownership and the joy of new friends and
relationships. The horse with an unrivaled
history is within your reach …
The Pyramid Society was founded in 1969 by a handful of breeders
in North America who were determined to protect the heritage of the
Egyptian Arabian horse. Although any claim that today’s Egyptian horse
derives its magnetic power from the ancient pharaohs of Egypt or from
the awesome presence of the pyramids is purely legendary, The Pyramid
Society continues forward in its mission to promote, preserve, and
perpetuate the magic and mystery,
romance and history of the Straight
Egyptian Arabian: the premier
source of classic Arabian type in
the world.
The Pyramid Society proudly
serves as an international catalyst to
bring the Egyptian Arabian horse
community together, most notably
through its annual Egyptian Event
— the world’s largest showcase for
the Egyptian Arabian horse — held
the first week of June each year at the
Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington,
Kentucky. Make plans now to
come, share, and learn: encounter
the extraordinary Egyptian Arabian, meet our passionate members, and
discover why “it’s more than just a horse show; it’s an Event!”
The next member of The Pyramid Society may be a curious spectator,
a brand-new owner, an established breeder, an ardent supporter
or a dedicated partner … and perhaps it’s you! Call, email, or visit
us online today to learn more about the many benefits of Pyramid
Society membership.
Membership benefit details and forms available at:
www.PyramidSociety.org
Phone: 859-231-0771
E-mail: [email protected]
On the cover: *Al Adeed Al Shaqab (Ansata Halim Shah x Sundar Alisayyah), World Champion Straight Egyptian Stallion